CHAP. III. ARRIVAL AT THE SECOND CAMP. 47 



with shattered blocks of lava fallen from the arete above. ^ I 

 patted and coaxed my animal on for a few yards, and then it 

 stopped again. It clearly found difficulty in supporting its own 

 weight. By continued encouragement, it was induced to advance 

 a few steps at a time ; but the halts became more frequent, and, 

 impatient of delay, I pushed on, and left it to pursue its course by 

 itself. Looking back, to see how the rest were progressing, I 

 found that they were scattered over about half-a-mile, and that 

 all the animals were in difficulties, though none carried more 

 than one hundred and sixty pounds. 



Carrel had selected a position for the second camp with much 

 Judgment, at the foot of a wall of lava, which perfectly protected 

 the tent on one side. The place was easy of access, and the 

 highest point to which mules could be taken ; with snow-beds 

 in its vicinity that would yield water, and ground round about 

 it upon which we could exercise. The baggage animals struggled 

 upwards one by one, and by 5.30 p.m. all had arrived.^ The 

 barometer stood at this place at sixteen inches and a half. 



We were all in high spirits. The weather had been fine, and 

 the move had been successfully effected. It was arranged that 



one of the arrieros, F by name, should sleep at Tortorillas, 



and come up daily to learn what was needed ; and all the rest of 

 the troop were sent back to Guaranda. They left us very gladly ; 

 for although we had succeeded in establishing our camp at the 

 selected spot, it had only been done by great exertions on the 

 part of my people and their beasts. The mules were forced up 

 to the last yard they could go, and staggering under their burdens 

 (which were scarcely more than half the weight they were accus- 

 tomed to carry), stopjied repeatedly, and by their trembling, 

 falling on their knees, and by their general behaviour, shewed 



J Upon any mule pass in the Alps, this would have been considered quite 

 ordinary, and easy ground. 



2 The average time they took in coming from the first to the second camp was 

 two hours. 



